Drooling over the chance to earn chocolate, my children have made a plethora of submissions for the "catch of the day" photos. Only trouble is that I haven't made time to select and publish them. When I get this post out, there will be joy in the camp :)I've selected just a few images that will give you a taste of our home over the last week or so. With my Dad and Mom arriving from California tonight, I'm expecting that the already fast pace will get even faster . . .

What do Washington kids do when the sun shines?Well, they just have to make do with artificial rain. . .That's Andrew, enjoying the effects of his own little black rain-cloud--a pierced water balloon.

There's a lot to seeif we look.Andrew's developing an appreciation for early summer bloom of the garden.

Benjamin's enjoying his tablecloth tent in the woods

Ella capturedthe new growth of a pine tree on our northern property line.

If milk is better when it's from contented cows,what is lettuce when it's raised by a happy farmer?That's Jonathan with a double-head--and that smile could reflect the pricethis whopper will bring from Mom. . .

About one month ago, I was offered a job at Perry Pallet, the manufacturing business run by my brothers-in-law. The offer was gracious, the terms were generous, and our need was great—so I happily accepted and went to work.

I followed a tractor trundling down a country road, green-gold with late spring sun. My only job in the rear of the procession was to turn on my flashers and stay on the brakes so I didn’t run into the brush-hog that swayed a little behind the hardworking tractor. We might have reached fifteen miles an hour in the 2 miles from Uncle Joel’s to our house. Maybe slower.

I watched the driver shifting through the gears as we pulled onto the road—he looked expert. If you didn’t notice the odd detail of bikes tied down in the tractor bucket (and who could help noticing since he raised the bucket ten feet in the air—he said it kept the bikes from bouncing out) you might not notice he was only thirteen. Today was his birthday.

Perhaps it was because we had just left the house where my tractor driver was born, thirteen years ago.

Or maybe it was the sunlight today on three sun-blond heads before me—the birthday boy driving, and two brothers taking notes from the orange fenders. I think, more precisely, they were just loving the wind in their hair and the drama of being in charge of a tractor in high gear.

I realized that out of the daily blur of “time for naps” and “pick up your socks” and “eat your zucchini” suddenly the years of little boy coalesced into my son picking up responsibility like a man. In some cultures he would be counted an adult.

So I have a birthday prayer—for this child and all my children: “God, let me pay attention to the details that matter to you and let the less important go—there’s never much time. Give me eyes to see who they were made to be and train them in that way. And thank you for the joy of watching them grow.”

I see clearly for a moment that the next thirteen years are likely to go just as quickly as the last thirteen and I could be holding his child before it seems possible. Of course the great thing about that is there will likely be another tractor driver to follow. . .

But some days a picture is the best way to converse—one flash says, “Take a look at. . .” or “Can you believe. . .” or “We’re still shaking our heads over. . .” And you might say in response, “That’s crazy . . . ” or “What in the world is that?” or “Sure glad they’re not my kids!”

Looking through a window on my world can enlarge yours.

So I’ve decided to start a “catch of the day” photo. I’ve asked the kids to be on the lookout for things that we can share with you—and I’ve promised a reward for pictures I choose to publish. There won’t be one every day and they won’t necessarily feature award-winning photography—but they will give you a vista point, a quick pull-out on the road of life from which you can gaze across the scene and into a life outside your own.Ultimately, the goal of the “catch of the day” is the same as my regular posts—to inspire you to take another look at the goodness of God in your own life, to think big thoughts about Him from the middle of ordinary living. The trivial things that happen to us every day are somehow essential ingredients in the great plan of God. Through small things, He is working wonders.

Muddy buddiesphoto by Ella

So here’s the first picture. My three boys and their good friend, Jeb, built an island in the middle of a bog in the woods—and then jumped in. Here’s what we saw when they came chortling home! Our septic tank may fill with mud when the clothes are done—but the memories won’t wash off.